Bitcoin Prices Tumble 40% on Wild Trading Day After Rising 1561% in 3 Months

Bitcoins have been on an upsurge in recent months, rising 1561% from $14 per Bitcoin on January 1, 2013, to a high of $237 per Bitcoin on May 4, as seen in the chart below.

With the price rising to stratospheric levels, there was only one possible outcome, which is a radical return to earth.  This took place yesterday, on April 10, 2013, with a radical pull back in prices.  The chart below shows the minute by minute trading in Bitcoins on April 10, 2013.  Over a four hour period, Bitcoins lost 40% of their value, moving from $250 to approximately $100, before settling at the end of the trading day at around $175.  Quite a wild ride for any traded commodity.